A lecturer at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), Mohammed Taufiq Adamu, has suggested to President John Dramani Mahama to sanction his appointees who have been found to be using a fake PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, the highest academic degree awarded by universities.
The lecturer emphasized that a PhD is not a mere accolade to be flaunted without substantial effort. He noted that acquiring a PhD can take several years for some individuals, and therefore, those who have not invested the necessary work should not be permitted to misuse the title to deceive the Ghanaian public.
Mohammed Taufiq Adamu stated that a PhD shows that you have completed advanced or original research in a specific field and is typically required for academic and research-orientated careers.
Speaking at the Ghana Academic Professionals Forum (GAP-F) research findings, the political communications strategist indicated that using fake portfolios to acquire political office puts the image of academia in the mud.
He stressed the need for the President to investigate the academic portfolios of his appointees before entrusting them with appointments.
“Some persons are going around calling themselves Doctors, and yet, investigations have exposed them as not being holders of a PhD. Those in academia know the trials people go through before they are awarded a PhD. It is not child’s play acquiring a PhD. On average, before one can acquire a PhD in Ghana, it can take four years. Others also go through the process for five to seven years before they get their PhD.
You cannot therefore sit in your room and award yourself the Dr title. Such an act is a disgrace to our profession as academics. It denigrates the body of knowledge and education. We are therefore appealing to President John Dramani Mahama to investigate this and crack the whip. Several of these individuals who have been exposed for having fake PhDs are in his government. As a leader, when your appointees engage in any form of misconduct, you have a responsibility to sanction the person or persons.”
